King's appointment was announced after a board meeting on Monday evening at which it was also agreed the former international Ray Houghton, who was involved in the last managerial appointment process, and Ruud Dokter, the FAI's newly appointed high-performance director, should assess the best candidate on a permanent basis. The developments were confirmed in a statement released by the FAI on Monday night. It said: "The FAI's Board of Management met this evening to review the work it has been doing on the senior men's team managerial appointment and to progress the next steps in the appointment process.

"After considering the views of people within the game and taking soundings from its constituent members, the board tonight decided that the next steps should include a comprehensive assessment of the market.

"It was agreed at the meeting that former international Ray Houghton, who was involved in the last managerial appointment process, and Ruud Dokter, the FAI's newly appointed high performance director, should carry out this on-going assessment and report for the board.

"The board of management also decided that it will appoint its current Under-21s head coach, Noel King, as interim senior manager. Ruud Dokter will provide additional support."

Ireland face Germany in Cologne and Kazakhstan in Dublin in their final two World Cup qualifiers next month but their chances of making it to Brazil next summer are purely mathematical.

Trapattoni's five-and-a-half-year reign ended last month after defeats by Sweden and Austria left Ireland in fourth place in Group C.

The former Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill was swiftly installed as the bookmakers' favourite to replace the 74-year-old Italian even before it emerged he was the FAI's No1 target.